By Ijeoma UKAZU
People with severe mental disorders on average tend to die earlier than the general population. This is referred to as premature mortality, a World Health Organization, WHO, the report has said.
The world health body report adds that there is a 10-25 year life expectancy reduction in patients with severe mental disorders.
According to an estimate from the Federal Ministry of Health, about 20-30 percent of the Nigerian population suffers from mental health challenges that have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and more on those at the frontline of the pandemic response as there is only one psychiatrist attending to one million Nigerians.
In the midst of these, the majority in need of mental health care do not receive treatment and sadly, the gap is more in low and medium-income countries like Nigeria with 85.4 percent.
Alarming, less than 300 psychiatrists, mostly located in state capitals are practicing in Nigeria and 90 percent of them can only be found in government employment.
To change the tide, the Lagos state government has made known its plans to reduce by one-third, premature deaths in the State through prevention, treatment and promotion of mental health and well-being, which it is doing in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goal three: Good health and wellbeing.
Speaking recently in Lagos during a Mental Health Conference organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he has set the groundwork for the development of sustainable mental health care programs and services that will ensure improved health outcomes in the long-term.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadiri Hamzat, noted that the implementation of the groundwork would enable Lagos to become one of the forerunners in the delivery of sustainable, efficient, and effective mental health services to its citizens in Nigeria, and Africa as a whole.
He said: “Mental Health is one of those issues in our society that is still very largely misunderstood and whose conversations still happen in secret. This is despite the fact that we all know someone who is struggling with one form of mental health challenge or the other, like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and those we have lost to suicide.
“Our goal is to reduce by one-third, premature death through prevention and treatment, and promote mental health and well-being, in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goal for Health.”
The governor states “We recognize the difficulties in accessing mental health services not necessarily because of non-availability of these services, even though the existing institutions and resources that provide these services are stretched to the fullest, more important factors are the lack of courage to come forward and seek help or insufficient awareness of where these services can be accessed.
“Our commitment to mental health is symbolized by the development of the Lagos State Mental Health Policy and Lagos State New Mental Health Law which was passed in 2019. This law provides for the protection of those suffering from stigmatization because of their illness and sets the framework for developing an effective and robust Mental Health Service for all Lagosians.
“As a government, we are working to partner and collaborate with other sectors, to create a strong network of operations, facilities, and programs that will address some of these challenges”, he stated.
As part of its mental health and wellbeing promotion, the Governor disclosed that mental healthcare has successfully been integrated into the General Hospitals and the Primary Health Centres’ services in the state.
According to him, “We are also building a first-class mental health institution in Ketu Ejirin. When
Giving a narrative of the increase in the percentage of citizens with mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, and psychotic disorder before COVID-19 and after the pandemic, Abayomi said that the new Lagos Mental Health Law that was passed in 2019 seeks to protect citizens against stigmatization and discrimination and increase access to mental health services.
Meanwhile, mental health experts and stakeholders at the conference have advocated building and sustaining investment in mental health to promote, protect and restore the mental health of citizens. They noted that better information, awareness, and education about mental health and illness; improved health and social services for persons with mental disorders; and enhanced legal, social, and financial protection for persons, families, or communities adversely affected by mental disorders will better improve health outcomes.
